Hammer Attack Leads To Standoff

Hammer Attack Leads To Standoff

By David Howell

Editor

ENID LAKE – A brutal attack with a hammer Sunday morning left a man in critical condition and ended with a standoff after the suspect barricaded himself in the residence on County Road 35 near the Enid Lake levee.

Sheriff Lance Humphreys reported John Paul Keel, Jr., age 24, was charged with aggravated assault and attempted murder after he was taken into custody around 2 a.m. Sunday morning. One victim was transported to Merit Health in Batesville and then flown to the Regional Medical Center where he remains in extremely critical condition, according to the sheriff. 

“He had head trauma from what appears to be multiple blows from a large framing hammer,” Humphreys told the Herald.

The second victim, a pregnant female, was initially transported by private vehicle for medical treatment and later taken to the Med for treatment. Humphreys said she sustained a severe laceration to her eyelid after being struck with the claw end of the framing hammer.

Humphreys said the initial call came from a Park Ranger, who saw the injured female standing outside the residence and stopped to assist. Deputy Jason Irby was only minutes away and found Keel barricaded in the house when he arrived on the scene. Multiple deputies forced entry into the house and had to subdue Keel with force to take him into custody, according to the sheriff.

“It was an intense fight to get Keel into cuffs,” Humphreys told the Herald after the scuffle. The sheriff also said alcohol and drugs were likely a contributing factor in the bloody argument. 

In an unrelated incident, Humphreys said his department continues to investigate another traumatic case initially reported last month after a man was set on fire on County Road 25. According to the sheriff, the case was initially reported on January 15 after the victim was transported to the Med in Memphis for treatment for burns on his back.

Humphreys said the victim told authorities he woke up on fire and was able to provide a few details of the crime. The sheriff also said the victim did not initially seek medical treatment for the burns.  The sheriff added that Assistant District Attorney Steven Jubera has been working with deputies from “day one,” as his department works to solve the case.

“We have interviewed one person of interest in this incident,” Humphreys said, adding that the Batesville Police Depart-ment is also providing assistance. Investigator Jerimaine Gooch has also made several trips to the Med to interview the victim.

“We have gathered forensic evidence in the case that has been taken to the crime lab in Batesville, but we are still following up on other leads,” the sheriff told the Herald.